What is NFL Tuck Rule? Did it apply to the Bills' fumble vs. Eagles

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Did Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen fumble the ball or throw an incomplete pass?

In the first quarter, Allen was moving the Bills downfield against the Philadelphia Eagles. On second-and-2 from the Eagles' 22-yard line, Allen was pressured and looked to throw the ball before getting sacked. His arm started moving forward, but didn't go in a typical overhead motion. The ball them came out and went backwards. Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell eventually recovered the ball at the Buffalo 45.


Allen loses the ball and the @Eagles recover!

PHIvsBUF on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVntpic.twitter.com/8kdQyGl54t

— NFL (@NFL) December 28, 2025

But was it a fumble or a pass? The call on the field was a fumble, but the play looked similar to the Tom Brady Tuck Play from the 2001 New England Patriots-Oakland Raiders game.

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After the play was reviewed, the call on the field was upheld. It was a fumble.

The Eagles then took the ball downfield and scored to take an early 7-0 lead, Dec. 28 in Buffalo.

Live blog: Eagles vs Bills live updates, score. Josh Allen fumble sets up Birds TD

What is the NFL Tuck Rule?​


The NFL Tuck Rule stated that if a quarterback's arm was moving forward when the ball came loose, it was an incomplete pass, even if the ball was being tucked back in toward the quarterback.

The rule was eliminated in 2013.

What is the NFL rule for fumbling?​


After the Tuck Rule was eliminated, if a quarterback was bringing the ball back to his body and lost the ball it was a fumble, not a pass.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: What is NFL Tuck Rule?

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